But last month more than 600 people signed a petition urging Health Secretary Jeremy Hunt to keep Dr Marsh in post, saying for him to leave would “clearly impact morale”.

A statement from the EEAST today said: “The Trust is in the process of recruiting a new chief executive. The final interviews have been completed and the Trust is in the process of agreeing final terms and arrangements for an appointment.

“We will make an announcement when this appointment can be confirmed, but the Trust is aiming to have the new CEO in post in August. Anthony Marsh officially returned to the West Midlands Ambulance Service NHS Foundation Trust on 5th August and in the short interim period our Deputy Chief Executive, Sandy Brown, will be covering the CEO role.”